CORNYSHE, WILLIAM

born , East Greenwich, Eng. died , c. October 1523, Hylden?, Kent Cornyshe also spelled Cornysh, or Cornysshe English composer, poet, playwright, and actor, a favourite court musician of Henry VIII, who granted him a manor in Kent, where he presumably died. Cornyshe's family was closely connected with the Chapel Royal, which trained young boy singers and actors; a William Cornyshe, possibly his father, was the first master of the choristers at Westminster (c. 147991). Cornyshe himself was connected with the Chapel Royal from 1496, taking over as master in 1509. He took the Chapel Royal to France with the king in 1513 and also again in 1520 to the Field of Cloth of Gold. He devised and performed in plays, masques, and pageants, being a principal actor at the court from 1508 to 1516. He wrote both secular and sacred music. A poem he wrote while in Fleet prison for slander was printed in a collection of the poet John Skelton's works and is sometimes attributed to that poet.